Four papers replace a system that funds one route generously and the rest poorly. Every citizen in England receives a National Skills Account at 16, held for life, which records their qualifications and holds their entitlements in skills units that rise each year with prices. Funding for education from 16 to 18 follows the young person into school, college or an apprenticeship. At 18 every citizen receives 20,000 units, which may be spent at any point in their life on a degree, a technical qualification, the training in an apprenticeship or the launch of a business, and the account is topped up at 25 and 40. Designated strategic subjects such as physics, chemistry, mathematics and engineering are funded for their full accredited length. Where a course costs more than the entitlement, the university may charge the difference to its graduates and bears the risk that it is not repaid. Living costs are supported by loans that rise with prices and nothing more.
Universities of Technology are established alongside the research universities and linked to the Catapult centres, technical colleges become the home of dual training and employers take ownership of technical standards. A new British Master qualification gives technical careers a respected summit, and no route is allowed to be a dead end. Employers direct the Growth and Skills Levy into the accounts of the people they train, the Immigration Skills Charge rises and is directed to training at home and a reserve power can limit dependence on sponsored workers. The NHS becomes responsible for funding the training of doctors and nurses, the cap on medical school places is lifted and funded training carries a period of NHS service. Dental training expands, salaried routes into teaching grow and employers who recruit doctors, nurses and teachers from abroad pay for doing so.